Two drug trade mayors surrendered to ‘Bato’, want a second chance

On Friday, the PNP chief director general presented two big shots in the illegal industry who were identified as public officials from the towns of Lanao del Sur. (image; Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa FB page)

Today, top cop Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa publicly announced in a press conference the surrender of two more mayors involved in the drug trade and both are confirmed to be included in the list of mayors linked to the drug trade in the country.

The PNP chief presented two big shots in the illegal industry who were identified as public officials from the towns of Lanao del Sur – an incumbent mayor and a former mayor. Both also admitted that they took part in the drug trade not in their own towns but in other parts of the Philippines particularly Quiapo, Cavite and Caloocan.

The mayors identified as Mohammad Ali Abu Abinang, former head of the town, Marantao in Lanao del Sur and a present mayor, Mamaulan Abinal Molok from Maguing, Lanao del Sur.

The two politicians apologized and expressed their support for the president’s war on drugs, promising to lead the anti-drug campaign in their municipalities.

Chief ‘Bato’ also stressed that the two “voluntarily surrendered” to him, adding that “they received information that they are in the watch list of the President.”

However, the PNP chief director general reacted after one question accused him of overprotecting the two mayor-suspects in contrast to his hostility with the other politicians involved in drugs.

He also added that, “Kung pusher na nakipagbarilan, babarilin talaga namin sila. Eh they (mayors) come in peace. Depende ngayon sa imbestigasyon ng CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group), malalaman natin kung ano mangyayari dito”. (If you are a pusher and you shoot at us, we will return fire. The mayors came in peace. Their fate will now depend on the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The two mayors admitted that they were once involved in drug trade but they did not operate in their municipalities.

Now, they want to be given a chance and giving their statements to the authority will be a positive start.

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